Who on Earth could have predicted 2018? Donald Trump befriended Kim Jong-un and turned on Justin Trudeau; NAFTA died and was reborn as the UMSCA; Facebook became a symbol of technology run amok; Stephen Hawking and Stan Lee died while Prince Louis and Gritty were born. And we still don’t know what’s happening with Brexit. But forget about the year that was. What about the year to come? To that end, we enlisted the smartest people we know – readers of The Globe and Mail.

What’s going to happen in the 2019 federal election?

Following an ill-advised attempt by Ontario PCs to discredit Andrew Scheer and thus pave the way for Doug Ford to make a run for the federal Conservative Party, the Conservatives sink to third-party status; on the upside, Christine Elliott becomes Premier of Ontario. Despite vigorous campaigning, Jagmeet Singh does not win a seat in the House of Commons; still, the NDP forms the Official Opposition, and selects one of Jack Layton’s children as interim leader. Justin Trudeau and the Liberals form government, and celebrate with a tree-hug-a-thon. – Roberta Bergman, Toronto

Liberals will be re-elected with a majority, PC will lose seats and Scheer should resign, NDP will be decimated, and Bernier will be elected, but will not achieve party status, so will “disappear.” – Alan Anderson, St. Agatha, Ont.

Alberta’s crisis forces a commitment to action and infrastructure spending in Western Canada. Divergence in economic health of Canada and the U.S., as well as trade-negotiation fallout, forces a conversation about Trudeau’s effectiveness. Social media and populism-driven campaigns continue to push rhetoric away from the centre. Liberals remain in power, but Conservatives gain seats, especially in Ontario. Russia takes no interest in our election, but Saudi Arabia condemns current leadership and ham-fistedly attempts to support Conservatives. – David Clare, Toronto

What will Donald Trump do in 2019?

Same as he always does. Make a jackass of himself with his narcissistic behaviour. – Cindy Hunter, St. John’s

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He will remain in office, defiant to all charges against him; but he will be marginalized as both Democrats and Republicans seek new presidential candidates to restore normalcy and decency to America in 2020. – Bill Hines, Toronto

Insect protein will emerge as a much healthier alternative to red meat. – John Clarry, Alliston, Ont.

The housing market is cooling; interest rates are rising; oil prices are tumbling. What’s going to happen to the Canadian economy in 2019?

A recession toward the end of 2019, with significant cooling of the housing market being the focus. The Toronto condo market will move into a significant correction and baby boomers will flood the market with single-home listings to capitalize on paper gains. Unemployment will rise and governments will need to reassess current budgets. – Mike Morton, Niagara Falls, Ont.

Tank. The Trump-caused tit-for-tat with China will see a sharp decline in home sales in Canada’s largest centres, as well as a sharp decline in investment in Canadian oil. – Dan St. Laurent, Frankville, N.S.

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Contraction; housing costs will continue to decline. More significant layoffs (any number above 100 in a single company is “significant”). No movement on pipelines – anywhere. Alberta goes into deep recession. – Rich Mole, Chilliwack, B.C.

Given the stage of the business cycle, the drying-up of investment as business votes with their wallets that they have no confidence in Canada under the Trudeau Liberals as a place to invest and expand, the continuing failures of the Liberal government on almost every economically consequential file, and the probable slowing down of the U.S. economy which has largely been propping ours up, we can expect 2019 growth of under 2 per cent and a probable recession in the final two quarters. Our stock market will continue to compete against putting our money in a can and burying it in the garden as a viable savings and investment strategy. – Gerald Cameron, Mississauga

20 per cent of Canadian energy will be generated by Jordan Peterson shouting at millennials (up from 10 per cent). – Jonathan Heggen, Burnaby, B.C.

The collapse of the oil patch will force the reversion of the economy to one based on beaver pelts, point blankets and wampum. Stymied Bay Street hedge-fund managers will attempt to corner the market on pemmican, with disastrous results. – Tom Bimson, Ottawa

In 2018, we saw a string of hurricanes batter the United States, along with devastating wildfires in British Columbia and California. What will be the defining environmental disaster of 2019?

Due to global warming there will be no more snowfall, anywhere; this is greeted with great enthusiasm in Newfoundland! – Wayne Hilsendeger, Sturgeon County, Alta.

‘Misinformation’ was 2018′s word of the year, according to Dictionary.com. What will be 2019’s word of the year, and why?

Survival. Of the species, the planet and life as we have known it. – Joyce Hamilton, Toronto

Realization. That we are screwed, without hope, due to global warming. – Douglas Gray, Stoney County, Alta.

Impeachment. Because the Mueller probe will finally lead to terrifying consequences for Donald Trump. Those who are not oblivious to reality will rejoice as justice finally wins. – Blanche Lewis, London, Ont.

What is The Globe and Mail’s front-page story going to be on Dec. 31, 2019?

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